Over 100,000 Donetsk Referendum Ballots Marked YES Found in East Ukraine

10 May 2014

Over 100,000 ballots marked YES were found in a pro-Russian car in Donetsk Oblast. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions are holding a referendum on Sunday to declare independence from Ukraine and a government the pro-Russians labeled as fascist.

Pictures from Obozrevatal show boxes with a “Donetsk People’s Republic” patch and a St. George ribbon. The Kyiv Postalso reports “a Kalashnikov rifle, Makarov pistol, plus ammunition were seized.” The pro-Russian forces took over 80 schools and forced them to host the referendum.

Mike Giglio from Buzzfeed reported there are a few polls open on Saturday night. The “Donetsk People’s Republic” previously said the referendum would be open 8AM to 10PM local time on May 11.

Me: “so did you vote today?” Pro-Russia activist in Donetsk: “yes, and I voted for you too.” … he was just kidding, I think.

Ukraine and the West declared the referendum illegal and neither will recognize the vote. Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised everyone when he asked the pro-Russians to delay the referendum to allow more time for open discussions with Kyiv. The pro-Russians said no and the referendum will go as planned.

There is only one question on the ballot: “Do you support the act of state-reliance of the Donetsk People’s republic?”